The Jeep Wrangler is one of the most popular models today, and Jeep has quite a few Wrangler options available for customers to choose from. There are Wranglers for everyone, including folks who are looking to go a bit green. That environmentally-friendly Wrangler is called the Jeep Wrangler 4xe, but there’s been some confusion about whether it’s a hybrid or an EV.

Introducing the Jeep Wrangler 4xe

Some Jeep fans may not have heard too much about the 4xe, which became an option for the Wrangler in the 2021 model year. Like other Wrangler options, the 4xe has a pretty steep price tag compared to the standard Wrangler. But that extra cash is paying for some upgrades that are unique to the Wrangler 4xe. 

Those upgrades, primarily in the Wrangler’s powertrain, make it an eco-friendly option for Wrangler fans, and, as it turns out, despite the extra costs, it’s worked out for Jeep. The Wrangler 4xe was named the Green SUV of the Year by Green Car Journal. This is a pretty big achievement for Jeep, which is not known for making eco-friendly SUVs to begin with. 

In any case, it’s natural to wonder about whether the Wrangler 4xe is a hybrid or an EV. After all, the Wrangler 4xe beat some solid competition from other eco-friendly SUVs to win that award. 

Is the Jeep Wrangler 4xe a hybrid or an EV?

The answer to that question is simple, but it’s a bit complicated too. The Wrangler 4xe model debuted in the 2021 model year, and as new as it is, it may be the first of many eco-friendly options in Jeep’s lineup. Like many automakers that have started making eco-friendly cars, Jeep did not go all-in immediately. Instead, the 4xe is a Wrangler, but with a hybrid powertrain rather than a true EV like a Tesla.

With that being said, it might be normal to be a bit confused about the Wrangler 4xe’s true nature. After all, Stellantis wrote that the Wrangler 4xe joined Jeep’s “global electric vehicle lineup.” Stellantis is the name of the company that owns Jeep, so that messaging may confuse some people. The Wrangler 4xe is absolutely not an EV, but it has a few similarities with a true EV since it’s a PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle).

That’s because PHEVs are hybrids that have a battery-only mode. In the Wrangler 4xe’s case, it can go 25 miles on only electricity alone. Furthermore, PHEVs like the Wrangler 4xe can be recharged as a real EV can. However, hybrids like the Wrangler 4xe will also have a regular engine that a real EV won’t have.

An overview of the Jeep Wrangler 4xe

According to Stellantis, that regular engine is a 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4. When combined with the Wrangler 4xe’s two electric motors, the Wrangler 4xe gets a total of 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. On top of that, while the Wrangler 4xe’s 17-kWh battery can allow it to travel 25 miles on only electricity, it’s also very fuel-efficient in hybrid mode. In hybrid mode, the Wrangler 4xe can get about 50 MPGe, which is significantly more than what a non-hybrid SUV usually gets.

Of course, other than that fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain, the 4xe is still a Wrangler. As Stellantis wrote, it’s still designed to off-road, but unlike other Wranglers, the Wrangler 4xe’s battery-only option gives drivers a great option that’s unique to the model. Since electric motors are silent, using battery-only mode while off-roading will allow drivers and their passengers to experience nature without the loud hum of the engine.